ANAHEIM – Grant Green didn’t know what to expect when he came to the Angels in a midseason trade with Oakland. The starting second base job certainly wasn’t on his mind.

Yet the rookie from Canyon High and USC has moved seamlessly into the Angels starting lineup after going hitless in 15 at-bats with the A’s. He’s making the most of his time in the lineup – however long that might be.

Green is batting .433 in 30 at-bats and reached base safely in 9 of his first 10 games with the Angels. He went 5 for 11, with two doubles, in a four-game series against the New York Yankees and went 1 for 3 with an RBI in the series opener Friday against Houston.

He failed to get a hit in Saturday’s game against Houston, going 0 for 4.

“I’m getting more repetitions here, just playing more,” Green said before Saturday’s game. “I think I’ve already played more games here than I did in Oakland in the two weeks I was there. It’s nice to know, that even if I have a bad day I’ll have another opportunity.”

Green said he didn’t suddenly become a superstar hitter just because he changed venues. He said the opportunity to play every day in place of injured Howie Kendrick (hyper-extended knee) has enabled him to gain a level of confidence he didn’t find in Oakland.

“When you get one start in a series, and not many ABs (at-bats), it’s hard to improve (it’s difficult) to keep going after that,” he said.

“Here, I’m just more comfortable. I don’t feel like I’m in a groove where the ball feels like a beach ball right now, but in the same sense I’m getting more ABs, and I’m able to settle into an organization within months of hitting the big leagues.”

Green admits he was a bit wary coming to Anaheim, where he attended many games as a kid. But several friendly faces made the transition smooth.

Green played against Mark Trumbo (Villa Park) and Hank Conger (Huntington Beach) in high school. He was scheduled to room with Conger at USC before the catcher was drafted by the Angels in the 2006 draft.

In college, Green played against Andrew Romine, who starred at Arizona State.

“Those guys made it made much, much easier going in,” Green said.

KENDRICK UPDATE

Kendrick has sat out since injuring his knee while chasing a popup Aug. 6 against Texas. While there isn’t a timetable for his return, Scioscia said Kendrick is showing signs of progress.

Kendrick’s knee has improved so much that he tested it by running Friday.

“He still feels it but it’s definitely getting better,” Scioscia said. “We’ll see how he goes through the weekend and where he (is) early next week. It feels better, but there’s not enough improvement for us to say he’ll be back (any time soon).”

Kendrick landed awkwardly as he tried to avoid a collision with right fielder Collin Cowgill and was helped off the field.

BOURJOS OK

Peter Bourjos didn’t suffer any lasting effects – or new injuries – from crashing into the right-field wall Friday night. He said all that happened was that the “wind was knocked out of me.”

Bourjos was making his first appearance Friday after missing the previous 39 games because of a fractured right wrist. He had been hit on the wrist during a game June 29.

Scioscia said he expects it will take Bourjos a dozen at-bats before he gets his timing back. Bourjos, who was batting .370 in 18 games before he got hurt, went 0 for 3 Friday and didn’t reach base again through five at-bats Saturday.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take,” Bourjos said. “Hopefully it’s quick. When you come back from an injury – six weeks or however long it was – you have to get your timing and rhythm back from playing every day.”

Bourjos said his hitless game Friday wasn’t a case of poor timing or rust. It was just one of those games, he said.

“You’re not going to get a hit every night or go 3 for 3 every night,” he said. “I just have to come back and keep working hard and progress and go in the right direction.”

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